Press Release
19 January 2010
The collection of the famous Vatican Museums is to be joined by the art work “Angel’s Wing II” created by Violeta Juškutė, one of the brightest figures on the Lithuanian modern art scene. This art work is a present from Lithuanian capital Vilnius and project Gold of Lithuania to Vatican. The present will remind of the pilgrimage of the Lithuanian yachtsmen in the Mediterranean Sea that took place in Summer 2009 to commemorate the Millennium of Lithuania.
Director of the Vatican Museums will receive the delegation from Lithuania at 10.30 am on 19 January 2009.
“We send our warmest regards from Lithuania and its capital together with this present. We do hope that this will encourage much more closer cooperation between Vilnius and Vatican, Lithuanians and Rome as well as Lithuania and Italy,” - said Vilnius Mayor Vilius Navickas.
The unique Lithuanian artist’s work “Angel’s Wing II” has been made of hand-made paper: each feather of the wing was individually attached to the metal framework. In 2007, the first part of the diptych took part in the exhibition of emerging European artists in Amsterdam and was selected by the committee consisted of Tate Modern London experts and other renowned art critics and shortlisted for Sotheby’s charity auction. Violeta presented her art work as a game, a dialogue and a fabric, the texture and the unpredictability of which inspire one for art. The funds raised by the auction were allocated and donated UNICEF children education programs.
"Angel's Wing is a contemporary remake of Icarus' dream to make wings and soar to the Sun,“ – art critic Laima Kreivytė describes Juškutė’s work. She claims that the imprints of feathers on the paper are reminiscent of pre-historic fossils in limestone, however, the sculpture hovering in air creates the impression of life.
"At the end of the last year, Pope Benedict XVI invited the Church to renew its connections with the art world. On the one hand, this present shows our approval of this invitation. Furthermore, we have one more splendid opportunity to show that Lithuania's name is made known not only by yachtsmen but also by artists,” – says Donatas Juškus, curator and president of Vilnius independent art galleries association and initiator of Gold of Lithuania project.
In Vatican Museums, “Angel’s Wing II” will stand as a symbol of the memory of the Lithuanian Millennium and the journey of Lithuanian yachtsmen in the Mediterranean Sea. In Summer 2009, the yacht Gold of Lithuania sailed across the Mediterranean Sea bearing its noble cause and raised its flag in 17 port cities. The delegation conveyed the message of the Lithuanian Millennium to the mayors of port cities in Croatia, Crete, Corsica and elsewhere. During this journey, Lithuanians were received on the highest level by Vice-President of Palermo (Sicily) Region as well as His Eminence Vatican’s Governor Giovani Lajola. The yachtsmen delivered to them Vilnius Mayor’s invitation to visit Lithuanian capital and expressed their determination to develop partnership connections further.
About the Artist
Violeta Juškutė (b. 1962) is an artist whose peculiar vision of the world is usually expressed by graphic means. She has been participating in exhibitions since 1987. She has nine personal exhibitions on her record. These were arranged in Salzburg, Vienna (Austria), Trent (Italy) and Vilnius. Since 1995, the artist has coordinated and organised 10 painting projects both in Lithuania and Austria. She was granted Salzburg City scholarship and studio in 1995, 1998 and 2005. In 2004, Violeta was allocated a scholarship by Culture Fund LUKAS (Germany). The artist is a member of Lithuanian and Austrian artist unions. Her art works have been acquired by Lithuanian and Austrian Art Museums.
For more information:
Donatas Juškus, director “Juškus Gallery”, project director “Gold of Lithuania”
tel. +37060039999; donatas@paintings.lt
